My Take On…NASHVILLE (aka my other favorite new ABC show)

Connie Britton may just be one of my favorite people on this planet. For 5 years as Mrs Coach on my favorite show of all time, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, she lit up the screen with her emotions and charm. It should come as no surprise, then, that in her new show, NASHVILLE (ABC 10/9c), based in and around the Nashville music scene, she’s pretty much perfection as Rayna Jaymes. Rayna is a country music legend with any number of top ten hits in the past 2 decades, and she suddenly faces the realization that if she doesn’t change her approach, that’s exactly where all that fame will stay – in the past.

When she’s confronted by her music label to take a road that intersects with bubblegum bombshell, Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere, all boobs and sequins, and the only major issue with the show), Rayna must make a difficult decision to try and change what she’s always been.

While dealing with their struggle in the music scene, Rayna and Juliette must face their family and personal lives head on – Rayna’s stay-at-home hubby is ready to branch out into something different (I never don’t love Eric Close), and her dad, played by Powers Boothe, is one of Nashville’s most powerful businessmen, whose strained relationship with Rayna is the stuff country songs are written about! Oh but don’t worry – Juliette’s family isn’t bright and shiny like she wants you to believe! Her history might put a damper on her spotlight.

Let’s not forget Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Rayna’s band leader who is a little bit more than just in love with her; when his feelings aren’t reciprocated, things might get even worse than Rayna could expect. Other fresh faces include one of my all time favorites, Jonathan Jackson, playing a “misguided musician” Avery Barkley, and Scarlett and Gunnar (Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio) – two beautiful kids with a music city dream.

One of the best parts of the show was the seamless incorporation of some great country classics, as well as new written-for-the-show hits. Who knew that all of these lovely people can sing? Lucky for us, ABC will be releasing the music we see each week for your immediate consumption, and trust me when I say you’ll be hooked!

As ABC puts it – “Everyone in Nashville has a dream,” and like everyone in Nashville, so do I. Mine dream is simple – that you’ll all find this show as addictive and entertaining as I did and that after tonight, you’ll be as in love with Connie Britton as I’ve always known you should be!